Found a case of 2008 August West wines - all wines had good corks - 4-SLH’s were gone, didn’t hold-up - 4-Grahams Family were really good with fruit n spice, 4-Rosella’s were ok n drinkable.
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This time took the cork out with an Ah-So, though it probably didn't need it--the cork was quite solid once out. Dark garnet in the glass, browning a bit. Lots of violet perfume in front of butterscotch and candied cherries on the nose. Lightbodied, still some fine tannins on the palate.
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A lot of trouble for a fading flower! The cork stuck fast to the side of the neck, probably could have been creditably removed with an Ah-So two-prong cork puller if I had one. Instead it broke and the wine had to be decanted. It's dark garnet with a lot of red berry fruit still going, some caramel or oak, a bit of dirt, still some fine tannins and a bit of volatile acidity, which I assume will blow off. Not a pleasant experience altogether, hoping some of the other bottles will be less difficult. Second day after vacuvining and resting in the fridge: more clearly browning around the edges. But there was this tantalizing hint of raspberry jam along with something floral (lilies or violet) on the nose and more fruit on the palate more butterscotch, less dirt. After tasting a second bottle with an intact cork and a rather different flavor profile, I suspect I should classify this one as "flawed."
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Just bought at auction, probably a fading flower. 91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Two very strong Pinot Noirs from this small artisanal winery, the 2008 Santa Lucia Highlands displays boysenberry and blueberry fruit with some raspberries, damp earth, and floral notes. The wine is medium to full-bodied, has sweet, silky tannins, beautifully pure, layered fruit, and a long, lush finish. (RP) (8/2010) 90 points Vinous: Bright red. Sexy aromas of red berries, licorice and Asian spices lifted by a floral topnote. Silky-sweet, dense and sappy, with very good definition and an intriguing earthy complexity to its raspberry and cherry flavors. Finishes with late velvety tannins and a whiplash of candied rose. This is already delicious. (ST)
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Popped & poured. Interesting flavor profile: cherry fruit, some vegetative notes, a bit of tar or tobacco, some oak, tad bit of smoke. Good acidity for food. Good mouth feel and plushness for a cocktail wine. Had it with ravioli in a red sauce and it was confusing. Need to try my next bottle with simple meat and veg--I think it might add some proper complexity.
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clear, ruby in color. vegetative, nutty, oak, orange peel, smoke on the nose. vanilla, cherry, chocolate, clove, smoke on the palate. light tannins and a touch of acid on the finish.
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Medium-light ruby red. Nice nose with cranberry, cherry, wood. Nice fruit, but it's a little uneven. Maybe it just needs some time. The sweetness of the fruit doesn't quite integrate. 88 points for potential.
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Big, burly style. Lots of sweet, dark fruit and spice typical of the appellation. Very good example of SLH Pinot Noir. Drinking well right now, and I feel will age gracefully for another few years. 14.6% alcohol.
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Ok I admit I'm a huge August West wine. I liked this wine when Ed brought it to a tasting in NJ but this bottle was even better. For $30.00 it would be hard to find a better pinot that's for sure. Not a SVD pinot and not priced like one but it sure tastes like one that's for sure.
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Its been almost a year since I last opened a bottle. This one took an hour or two to open up. When first poured, the wine was surpisingly tight and not giving up much aromatically or on the palet. Some tart cranberry, red fruits and a little cola. It seemed a little thin. After a couple of hours the wine picked up some good pinot funk on the nose, some strawberry jam as others have noted, and some more cola. It turned silky and soft. I just found myself wanting a little more on the nose where it just seemed lacking tonight. On the palet, I enjoyed the medium to lighter body and the nice flavors once it opened. The finish lingered for quite a while too. I'm just not quite sure where I stand on this tonight. On one hand I really like the elegance and long finish but it also seemed to be missing something. Maybe a little bit more tension or acidity.
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Vinturi into glass. Medium dark purple fades to edge of glass. Nose is florals with oak influenced cola/vanilla/caramel...strawberry jam emerges with some time. Very pleasing plush palate matches nose w/some welcome tart cranberry/citrus to finish. Short term cellaring may integrate the oak but not enough zing for longer cellaring. 88+.
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Decanted for an hour then drank over an hour and a half with a pork chop and brussel sprouts. A bit tight upon opening, but quickly opened up. Very aromatic with cherries, vanilla and cola. The only hit this can take is for being a bit over oaked and lacking acidity which it certainly is and does. Yet, overall it is a pleasure to drink and makes me smile. Thanks Ed
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Nice, spicy nose on opening. Some floral notes. A fragrant wine. Very smooth and tasty. This is a mid-weight pinot. Heavier than an Oregon pinot, but lighter than a Sea Smoke. Everyone loved this, and at ~$20.00, it's great QPR. Now I'm anxious to taste my other August West wines.
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Decanted a couple of hours. Great sweet baked cherry and strawberry nose with some spicy funk. Palate with fruit, oak, and acidity was a little out of balance.
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Drank pretty well with just a bit of aeration. Plush and fruit centric, and as i have remarked many times previousl about Ed's wines, it has a feminine quality but still exhibits the forwardness that Ed does well. Some pinot funk, SLH strawberry jam, cola and very nice. I suspect this wine will peak within a year or so and drink fine through about 2013.
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decanted for an hour and a half. Developed over the next two. With what was at first a bit of heat and cherry cola on the nose it became softer and the heat dissipated and some vanilla and baking spice joined in. The wine has a somewhat signature flavor profile of cherries vanilla blueberry and spice that comes up with every tasting. Happy wine!
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Decanted about 6 1/2 hours. The nose had cherry and cola, forest floor and spice, and a big shot of vanilla. The palate of smooth, with cola and cherry, earth and spice, and big oak finish.
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Decanted for a half hour or so. Sweet cherry on the nose, maybe some strawberry. Quite a bit of oak on the palate with the above cherries. Very soft tannins and not much acidity. Pleasant wine.
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Very nice. Remarkably similar to the 2007 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast bottling. I waffled back and forth as to which I liked better but in the end they were just too similar to pick one. The August West was ten bucks less and Ann liked it better. Very nice wine for the price and I wish I bought more than one.
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This wine was opened and poured. The aromatics show red cherry pie, spice, subtle earth and floral notes. The bouquet is expressive but balanced. The color is a vibrant medium ruby that is youthful and correct for the wines age. The medium bodied palate offers balance and nuance. The wines finishes with a pleasant mix of fruit, tannins and acidity. This shows well now for its youthful vibrancy and provides an outstanding introduction to the 2008 August West Pinot Noir line-up.
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1/6/2022 - GLOBALI Does not like this wine:
Found a case of 2008 August West wines - all wines had good corks - 4-SLH’s were gone, didn’t hold-up - 4-Grahams Family were really good with fruit n spice, 4-Rosella’s were ok n drinkable.
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5/22/2020 - mazik wrote: flawed
Skunked! One of my worst purchases ever, three of four bottles were undrinkable.
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4/25/2020 - mazik wrote: flawed
Corked!
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2/11/2020 - mazik Likes this wine: 90 Points
This time took the cork out with an Ah-So, though it probably didn't need it--the cork was quite solid once out. Dark garnet in the glass, browning a bit. Lots of violet perfume in front of butterscotch and candied cherries on the nose. Lightbodied, still some fine tannins on the palate.
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1/30/2020 - mazik wrote: flawed
A lot of trouble for a fading flower! The cork stuck fast to the side of the neck, probably could have been creditably removed with an Ah-So two-prong cork puller if I had one. Instead it broke and the wine had to be decanted. It's dark garnet with a lot of red berry fruit still going, some caramel or oak, a bit of dirt, still some fine tannins and a bit of volatile acidity, which I assume will blow off. Not a pleasant experience altogether, hoping some of the other bottles will be less difficult. Second day after vacuvining and resting in the fridge: more clearly browning around the edges. But there was this tantalizing hint of raspberry jam along with something floral (lilies or violet) on the nose and more fruit on the palate more butterscotch, less dirt. After tasting a second bottle with an intact cork and a rather different flavor profile, I suspect I should classify this one as "flawed."
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1/12/2020 - mazik wrote:
Just bought at auction, probably a fading flower.
91 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Two very strong Pinot Noirs from this small artisanal winery, the 2008 Santa Lucia Highlands displays boysenberry and blueberry fruit with some raspberries, damp earth, and floral notes. The wine is medium to full-bodied, has sweet, silky tannins, beautifully pure, layered fruit, and a long, lush finish. (RP) (8/2010)
90 points Vinous: Bright red. Sexy aromas of red berries, licorice and Asian spices lifted by a floral topnote. Silky-sweet, dense and sappy, with very good definition and an intriguing earthy complexity to its raspberry and cherry flavors. Finishes with late velvety tannins and a whiplash of candied rose. This is already delicious. (ST)
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7/15/2013 - underwds wrote: 90 Points
Popped & poured. Interesting flavor profile: cherry fruit, some vegetative notes, a bit of tar or tobacco, some oak, tad bit of smoke. Good acidity for food. Good mouth feel and plushness for a cocktail wine. Had it with ravioli in a red sauce and it was confusing. Need to try my next bottle with simple meat and veg--I think it might add some proper complexity.
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3/17/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 89 Points
A nice wine. I liked it a bit more last year. When SLH ages, the great aspects of its fruit has faded some
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11/29/2012 - affordableCollector Likes this wine: 89 Points
clear, ruby in color. vegetative, nutty, oak, orange peel, smoke on the nose. vanilla, cherry, chocolate, clove, smoke on the palate. light tannins and a touch of acid on the finish.
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9/22/2012 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Medium-light ruby red. Nice nose with cranberry, cherry, wood. Nice fruit, but it's a little uneven. Maybe it just needs some time. The sweetness of the fruit doesn't quite integrate. 88 points for potential.
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6/29/2012 - btjmax Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big, burly style. Lots of sweet, dark fruit and spice typical of the appellation. Very good example of SLH Pinot Noir. Drinking well right now, and I feel will age gracefully for another few years. 14.6% alcohol.
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6/17/2012 - hammie1234 wrote: 92 Points
Red fruits like cranberry and cherry but not much cola. Really enjoyed it. Probably could use some more time in the bottle.
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7/10/2011 - pjhr wrote: 90 Points
Ripe cherry notes on the nose and palate with silky texture but rather simple finish.
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7/2/2011 - bundydavis wrote: 92 Points
Very enjoyable. Nice fruit and a great nose.
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5/12/2011 - Kmonkey wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes. Developed quicker in decanter and seemed a bit more balanced than before. Very enjoyable.
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4/25/2011 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Drank with a fresh beet salad. Showed Ed's SLH signature of ripe strawberry jam and forest floor, with a hint of funk. Always a great value.
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4/25/2011 - Screameagle wrote: 91 Points
Ok I admit I'm a huge August West wine. I liked this wine when Ed brought it to a tasting in NJ but this bottle was even better. For $30.00 it would be hard to find a better pinot that's for sure. Not a SVD pinot and not priced like one but it sure tastes like one that's for sure.
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4/5/2011 - Outplaying wrote:
Its been almost a year since I last opened a bottle. This one took an hour or two to open up. When first poured, the wine was surpisingly tight and not giving up much aromatically or on the palet. Some tart cranberry, red fruits and a little cola. It seemed a little thin. After a couple of hours the wine picked up some good pinot funk on the nose, some strawberry jam as others have noted, and some more cola. It turned silky and soft. I just found myself wanting a little more on the nose where it just seemed lacking tonight. On the palet, I enjoyed the medium to lighter body and the nice flavors once it opened. The finish lingered for quite a while too. I'm just not quite sure where I stand on this tonight. On one hand I really like the elegance and long finish but it also seemed to be missing something. Maybe a little bit more tension or acidity.
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11/27/2010 - Wine'in Brian wrote: 88 Points
Vinturi into glass. Medium dark purple fades to edge of glass. Nose is florals with oak influenced cola/vanilla/caramel...strawberry jam emerges with some time. Very pleasing plush palate matches nose w/some welcome tart cranberry/citrus to finish. Short term cellaring may integrate the oak but not enough zing for longer cellaring. 88+.
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11/10/2010 - Kmonkey wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour then drank over an hour and a half with a pork chop and brussel sprouts. A bit tight upon opening, but quickly opened up. Very aromatic with cherries, vanilla and cola. The only hit this can take is for being a bit over oaked and lacking acidity which it certainly is and does. Yet, overall it is a pleasure to drink and makes me smile. Thanks Ed
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10/11/2010 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
Nice, spicy nose on opening. Some floral notes. A fragrant wine. Very smooth and tasty. This is a mid-weight pinot. Heavier than an Oregon pinot, but lighter than a Sea Smoke. Everyone loved this, and at ~$20.00, it's great QPR. Now I'm anxious to taste my other August West wines.
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10/10/2010 - jdbcolumbus wrote: 89 Points
Decanted a couple of hours. Great sweet baked cherry and strawberry nose with some spicy funk. Palate with fruit, oak, and acidity was a little out of balance.
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10/9/2010 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Drank pretty well with just a bit of aeration. Plush and fruit centric, and as i have remarked many times previousl about Ed's wines, it has a feminine quality but still exhibits the forwardness that Ed does well. Some pinot funk, SLH strawberry jam, cola and very nice. I suspect this wine will peak within a year or so and drink fine through about 2013.
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7/16/2010 - Kmonkey wrote: 89 Points
decanted for an hour and a half. Developed over the next two. With what was at first a bit of heat and cherry cola on the nose it became softer and the heat dissipated and some vanilla and baking spice joined in. The wine has a somewhat signature flavor profile of cherries vanilla blueberry and spice that comes up with every tasting. Happy wine!
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5/30/2010 - mmurry Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted about 6 1/2 hours. The nose had cherry and cola, forest floor and spice, and a big shot of vanilla. The palate of smooth, with cola and cherry, earth and spice, and big oak finish.
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5/20/2010 - Kmonkey wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for a half hour or so. Sweet cherry on the nose, maybe some strawberry. Quite a bit of oak on the palate with the above cherries. Very soft tannins and not much acidity. Pleasant wine.
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4/27/2010 - Kmonkey wrote: 91 Points
No notes, but was a treat
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4/11/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
Very nice. Remarkably similar to the 2007 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast bottling. I waffled back and forth as to which I liked better but in the end they were just too similar to pick one. The August West was ten bucks less and Ann liked it better. Very nice wine for the price and I wish I bought more than one.
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4/9/2010 - sehill Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another fine showing for this wine.
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2/28/2010 - sehill wrote: 92 Points
This wine was opened and poured. The aromatics show red cherry pie, spice, subtle earth and floral notes. The bouquet is expressive but balanced. The color is a vibrant medium ruby that is youthful and correct for the wines age. The medium bodied palate offers balance and nuance. The wines finishes with a pleasant mix of fruit, tannins and acidity. This shows well now for its youthful vibrancy and provides an outstanding introduction to the 2008 August West Pinot Noir line-up.
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11/14/2009 - AllRed wrote: 89 Points
Pinot Days Chicago (Navy Pier, Chicago): Aromas of baked cherries and white pepper. Spicy black cherry tones on the palate.
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